Bad teeth may help Houston police catch home invader

Authorities have released the sketch of one of two suspects who burst into an apartment and assaulted residents during a robbery late last year at an apartment in southwest Houston.

The home invasion occurred about 11:40 p.m. Dec. 26, at 11650 W. Bellfort near South Kirkwood, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police say three women and a teenage boy were asleep in the apartment when they heard loud knocking on the front door. The two suspects then announced themselves as police officers and kicked open the door. They brandished handguns and demanded money and drugs. Police said the suspects slapped the victims and pulled the hair of some of them.

They ransacked the apartment but found no drugs and only a small amount of cash. Then they left, stealing the cash and some electronic items.

It appeared the suspects may have targeted the wrong apartment and believed the victims had drugs, HPD Sr. Officer Michael Ybanez said Monday morning during a news conference about the case. However, Ybanez said, the victims have no connection to drug activity and no evidence suggests they had drugs or a lot of cash in the apartment.

Both suspects are described only as white and in their late 30s. They wore dark, tactical-style clothes similar to those that law enforcement SWAT units might wear, police said.

One is described as about 6 feet 2 inches tall. He wore eye glasses, a dark knit cap and had black decay on his teeth. Police released a sketch of him.

No detailed description of the other suspect was available.

Ybanez said suspects who impersonate police officers are particularly dangerous because they erode the public's trust in the police department.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Major Offenders Division at 713-308-3100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.